HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2022-079 SCHC Application for HRSA Sponsored by: Bower
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2022-079
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, SUPPORTING SEWARD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER,
INC.'S APPLICATION FOR A HEALTH RESOURCES & SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION(HRSA)2022 SERVICE AREA COMPETITION(SAC)
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY AS A STANDALONE ENTITY
WHEREAS, Seward Community Health Center (SCHC) has been in a Co-Applicant
Agreement with the City of Seward to receive Health Resources & Services Administration
(HRSA) funding since 2014; and
WHEREAS, SCHC has been operating the federally qualified health center since
March 10, 2014 as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; and
WHEREAS, SCHC has not received operational funding support from the City of
Seward since 2020; and
WHEREAS,the disadvantages of maintaining the Co-Applicant Agreement between
SCHC and the City of Seward now outweigh the benefits for both parties.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA that:
Section 1. The City Council supports the Seward Community Health Center's
submission of the FY2023 Service Area Competition grant application as a single entity.
Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 27th
day of June, 2022.
T A ALASKA
risty Te ry, Ma r
AYES: Osenga, McClure, Casagranda, DeMoss, Calhoon, Wells, Terry
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2022-079
ATTEST:
Brenda J. Ballou, MC
City Clerk
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City Council Agenda Statement
Meeting Date: June 27, 2022
To: City Council
From: Janette Bower, City Manager
Agenda Item: Resolution 2022-079: Supporting Seward Community Health Center,
Inc.'s Application for a Health Resources & Services Administration
(HRSA) 2022 Service Area Competition (SAC) Funding Opportunity as a
Standalone Entity
Background and justification:
Please note: this information is provided by SCHC Director Craig Ambrosiani:
In March of 2014 Seward Community Health Center opened to the public after receiving their
first Service Area grant as a co-applicant with the City of Seward. Thanks to the financial and
administrative support from the City, SCHC was able to grow and become independent by
providing our own health insurance, policies, accounting systems, and policies. We have also
reduced our financial dependence from the City by reducing annual contributions from over
$500,000 per year in 2014 to zero dollars and a no-cost lease for the clinic space at the
hospital as of 2021. SCHC has demonstrated its continued growth and maturity as Seward's
community health center in the following areas.
Federal Compliance:
Federal Tort Claims Act, malpractice coverage, deeming 2017, annually applied and
awarded through current year.
HRSA compliance site visit, every 3 years,August 2017- scored in the top 10 percent of all
US health centers. Completed virtual visit in 2020 with HRSA recommending SCHC as a
resource for other health centers.
Formally accredited as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, in October 2017 through an
independent accreditation process. This accreditation was elevated to a higher level and where
we were reviewed and awarded continuous accreditation in 2020 and 2021.
SCHC received its first clean audit for FY 2017 and has continued to receive clean audits
through 2020.
Received $75,000 Federal award for clinical quality improvements made in 2017 and
continued to receive annual awards for clinical quality improvements as available.
Services/ Community Support:
Primary medical care services are provided by two full time mid-level providers, one full
time physician, and two part time physicians.
Integrated behavioral health services for screening, brief intervention, treatment, and
referral services, started in June of 2018.
Behavioral health screening services started in local schools in October of 2018
Part-time pediatric services started in January of 2018
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Five mental health first aid classes training over 30 community members in the 2021.
Grants awarded from HRSA then contracted to local non-profits, Seaview Community Services
was contracted to provide staffing for mental health/substance use screenings in the schools
for $105,000 per year starting in May 2019 and ending in May of 2021 at Seaview's request.
Seward Prevention coalition was contracted to provide staffing for mental health/substance use
screenings through their youth 360 program for $145,000 per year, from February of 2020,
ended May 2022. These funds were available through Federal grants applied for and received
by the SCHC.
COVID:
Since March of 2020 we have administered over 5,000 COVID tests.
Since December of 2020 we have given 4,500 vaccination shots, with approximately 1,800 fully
vaccinated.
We were able to support our community with educational resources and frequent updates
during our recent pandemic.
SCHC has been recently recognized by the Seward Chamber of Commerce and the Seward Fire
Department with awards for service to our community throughout the COVID pandemic.
Sustainability:
Patient volume has been staying around 5,000 provider visits per year with approximately
2,000 patients per year, pre-COVID.
Profit margins have been mostly positive and overall have produced an organizational net
worth of $1.1 million in eight years, per our 2021 audit.
SCHC purchased approximately 1 acre of land, in 2017,just north of the hospital as the future
site of our community health clinic.
Mission:
Seward Community Health Center's mission is 'to identify and serve the Healthcare needs of
our community by providing quality, affordable services and promoting wellness, prevention,
and partnerships.'
CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION
Two of the main benefits of this change are that the city finance staff would no longer need to
commit staff time towards SCHC fiscal audits, requesting/reimbursing drawdown requests, and
reviewing SCHC grant applications. Also, the SCHC board could accept city employees and their
relatives, therefore giving SCHC a broader pool of potential board applicants.
The SCHC board met on May 261", 2022, and approved SCHC administration to work with the
City and HRSA to apply for the SAC grant as a single entity, and not as a co-applicant with the
City of Seward.
The joint coordinating committee which includes the City Manager, council healthcare
representative, SCHC board chair and SCHC Director, met and agreed to proceed with this
resolution.
The service area competition application for this grant will be closing on August 17t", 2022,
with a grant start date of February 1, 2023.
SCHC would like the City to support the SCHC with a resolution to apply for the HRSA Service
Area Competition as a stand-alone entity. This transition to a single entity is in keeping with the
original intent of when SCHC was established.
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Comprehensive and Strategic Plan Consistency Information
This legislation is consistent with (citation listed):
Comprehensive Plan:
Strategic Plan:
Other:
Certification of Funds
Total amount of funds listed in this $ p
legislation:
This legislation (✓):
Creates revenue in the amount of: $
Creates expenditure in amount of: $
Creates a savings in the amount of: $
x Has no fiscal impact
Funds are (✓):
Budgeted Line item(s):
Not budgeted
x Not applicable
Unassigned Fund Balance and Available Unrestricted Cash Balance Information
Fund (✓):
General SMIC Electric Wastewater
Boat Harbor Parking F1 Water Healthcare
Motor Pool Other
Unassigned Fund Balance*: $ *unaudited numbers
Available Unrestricted Cash Balance*: $
Finance Signature:
Attorney Review✓ I Administration Recommendation
RYes x Adopt Resolution
Not applicable Other:
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